Tsai Ching-hsiang

In this Chinese name, the family name is Tsai.

Tsai Ching-hsiang (Chinese: 蔡清祥; pinyin: Cài Qīngxiáng) is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer. He has served as the Minister of Justice since 2018.

Tsai Ching-hsiang
蔡清祥
15th Minister of Justice
In office 16 July 2018 – 20 May 2024
Prime Minister	William Lai Su Tseng-chang Chen Chien-jen
Deputy	Tsai Pi-chung Chen Ming-tang
Preceded by	Chiu Tai-san
Succeeded by	Cheng Ming-chien
Director-General of the Investigation Bureau
In office 5 August 2016 – 15 July 2018
MOJ Minister	Chiu Tai-san
Preceded by	Joey Chung-I Wang
Succeeded by	Lin Lin-lan
Personal details
Political party	Independent
Education	Soochow University (LLB) Chinese Culture University (LLM) National Taiwan University (MBA)

Before his ministerial career, he also served as the Director-General of the Investigation Bureau and the President of the Academy for the Judiciary of the Ministry of Justice. He is also known by the English name Shawn Tsai.^[1]

Education

Tsai earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Soochow University and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Chinese Culture University. He later completed an executive Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from National Taiwan University.^[2]

Career

Tsai served as head prosecutor in Kinmen and Miaoli,^[3] before taking office as the prosecutor-general of Keelung.^[4] He later led the Department of Prosecutorial Affairs at the Ministry of Justice. In this role, Tsai facilitated the extradition of Gerhard Dieter Rockmann to Germany and Wang You-theng from the United States.^[5][6] In mid-2007, Tsai was named head prosecutor of the Shilin District Prosecutors' Office.^[7] After leaving Shilin, Tsai served as lead prosecutor in Taoyuan and chief secretary of the justice ministry,^[3][8] followed by a stint as principal of the Judges Academy [zh].^[9] He was subsequently named to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in July 2016.^[9] In 2016, Tsai was appointed director general of the Investigation Bureau.^[10][11][12] As bureau leader, Tsai investigated environmental damage and was especially known for leading drug busts.^[13][14] Tsai was respected for his high standards, efficiency, and personal leadership style.^[15] He was also known for his close relationship with William Lai.^[16]

Minister of Justice

Tsai was appointed Minister of Justice in July 2018, succeeding Chiu Tai-san.^[17][18] Tsai was formally sworn in on 16 July 2018.^[19]

On 31 August 2018, Tsai Ching-hsiang ordered the execution of convicted murderer Lee Hung-chi.^[20] Lee's death was the first execution carried out by the Tsai Ing-wen administration.^[21]

References

1. "Liberty for libertines - Taiwan's courts may decriminalise adultery". The Economist. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
2. "Director General Tsai, Ching-hsiang". 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
3. Yu, Kai-hsiang; Kuo, Chung-han (28 July 2016). "Tsai Ching-hsiang named Investigation Bureau chief". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
4. Chuang, Jimmy (21 April 2003). "Germany seeks extradition of kidnap-murder suspect". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
5. Chang, Rich (4 July 2006). "Germany seeks extradition of kidnap-murder suspect". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
6. Snyder, Charles; Hirsch, Max; Chang, Rich (4 February 2007). "US immigration holding fugitive Wang". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
7. Chang, Rich (8 July 2007). "Feature: Justice ministry considering methadone bill". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
8. "Chemical castration law is unnecessary: lawmaker". Taipei Times. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
9. Pan, Jason (7 July 2016). "Ministry of Justice reshuffling heads of prosecutors' offices". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
10. "Tsai Ching-hsiang named Investigation Bureau chief - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
11. Chen, Wei-han (10 March 2017). "Chinese espionage threat growing: security officials". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
12. "Leu Weng-jong appointed new head of Investigation Bureau - Focus Taiwan". Focus Taiwan - CNA English News. 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
13. Pan, Jason (29 June 2017). "Tree DNA database aims to combat illegal logging". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
14. Chin, Jonathan (15 February 2018). "Keelung investigators seize 600kg of ecstasy". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
15. Lee, Hsin-fang; Lin, Chia-tung; Chin, Jonathan (12 July 2018). "FEATURE: Three new ministers tapped: sources". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
16. Lee, Hsin-fang; Su, Yung-yao; Hetherington, William (12 July 2018). "Cabinet shuffle to include Hochen". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
17. Lin, Sean (13 July 2018). "Premier unveils Cabinet picks". Taipei Times. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
18. Pan, Jason (14 July 2018). "Outgoing minister denies death penalty veto claims". Taipei Times. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
19. Lin, Chia-nan; Chin, Jonathan (17 July 2018). "Justice minister to review policy on death sentencing". Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
20. Hsiao, Po-wen; Wang, Flor (31 August 2018). "President Tsai's administration carries out first death penalty". Central News Agency. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
21. Strong, Matthew (31 August 2018). "Taiwan executes convict on president's birthday". Taiwan News.